Just what are the Red Boats?

[Op108wc]

It is not only true that the WCK practioners need the red boats, but the Red Boats need the WCK practioners also for thier energies to continue in this world.


*Hong Gun Byu

Hung Gun Biu (from Hung Gun Wui)

*Dai Dong Fong

Dai Dong Fong (from Hung Men Society)




The Guangzhou Jun Lin Wing Chun Pugilistic Association Forum

Just what are the Red Boats?

« Thread Started on Nov 25, 2005, 1:49pm »

Although wing chuns history is readily traceable back to the red boats there seems to be a lot of misinformation about what was exactly on the red boats. A few arts, (hung ga being one of them) also trace back to the red boats. Whether this is true or not, I do not know becuase I didn't look into the hung ga history or try to varify it. With Wing Chun however this much we do know.


The red boats were based out of Guangzhou's then Sai Gwan (west district. now known as Lai wan Keui) They were known as the Hong Syun Hei Ban operatic troupe and was made up of a number of brightly decorated boats (not just 1 boat).

During the Reign of Hong Hei -Kin Long in the mid-late Qing Dynasty Wing Chun's first recognisable master Leung Bok Lau (sometimes called Leung Bok Tao) came to Guangzhou from Guangxi and taught members of the Hong Syun Hei Ban operatic troupe Wing Chun. (whether or not wing chun was known by this name or not at this time is unknown, my findings were inconsistant) All in all around 10 people (not 2 or 3 as most people believe) studied wing chun. These people were;

*Wong Wah Bou (from Guangdong, Hok Saan City, Ji San),

*Dai Fa Min Gam (from Guangzhou,)

*Leung Yi Tai (from Guangdong, although he was raised on one of the many small boats that are found up and down the pearl river),

*Gou Lou Jong (from Guangdong, Nan Hai,)

*Dao Ngan Son

*Fa Ji Ming

*Lai Fok Syun

*Leung Lan Gwai

*Lo Man Gong

*Hong Gun Byu
and
*Dai Dong Fong amongst others.

Three of these people are known to have passed on wing chun. Wong Wah Bou and Leung Yi Tai through Leung Jan, and Dai Fa Min Gam through Fok Bou Chyun and Fung Siu Ching. But there is nothing saying that the others did or didn't pass on their art to other people.

Wing Nut

[Op108wc]

HUNG GUN BIU – HUNG FA YI ANCESTOR



All Martial Arts have many legends that have contributed to the systems survival. Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun is no different. Indeed, a man known as Hung Gun Biu is one such legend, and more. Legends usually have no traceable lineage, have no basis in fact. But in the Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun lineage, Hung Gun Biu was indeed a member of a historically verifiable organisation, namely the Hung Gun (Red Bandana) Boxer Rebellion Society. Hung Gun Biu was a real man, part of a rebellion organisation and took part in real life and death combat.



The Ming Dynasty was in turmoil, and the Manchurian invaders capitalised on this and in time took over the ruling of China and established a new Dynasty – the Qing. This new ruling body of foreigners imposed many insulting and suppressive measures on the Chinese people, relegating them to ‘second-class’ folk. But the Chinese fought back and indeed many Rebellion Societies were born, that would engage with the enemy in guerrilla warfare against the oppressive foreign regime. These Societies were established with honourable intent, and one such group was lead by Hung Gun Biu, the Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun ancestor.



There were many rebellion groups at that time, and each group would have used differing martial arts to fight against the invaders. But in the Hung Gun Boxer Rebellion Society, Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun was the system of choice. Hung Gun Biu had a very important task to perform – he had to train many fighters to attack personnel from the Qing Dynasty as well as soldiers. Being one of the Society leaders, his knowledge of Martial Arts was very high.

Indeed, he was the 4th generation Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun Grandmaster, and as such, he also had to ensure that the system was passed on intact to the next generation. All of these facts can be taken lightly, but when a person considers the following, those tasks become much more dangerous:



· Each day of his life, Hung Gun Biu would possibly have encountered life or death situations in battle

· He would have to teach individuals combat techniques at the risk of his life – there were severe penalties for anti-Qing activity

· He would have to honour his ancestors and maintain the Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun system for the future generations

· He would have to keep Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun secret from the Qing authorities



When these facts are highlighted, it can be seen that the Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun ancestors lived a dangerous life in war against a foreign invader. Hung Gun Biu was no public figure engaged in running a nice little martial arts school – he was a warrior who is directly responsible for maintaining Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun, and must be remembered as such.

[Cang Long]

Legends usually have no traceable lineage, have no basis in fact. But in the Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun lineage, Hung Gun Biu was indeed a member of a historically verifiable organisation, namely the Hung Gun (Red Bandana) Boxer Rebellion Society. Hung Gun Biu was a real man, part of a rebellion organisation and took part in real life and death combat. Op108wc,
yes for many this is something often over looked in many discussions but so long as the wing chun formula lives this great leader will never be forgotten. Thank you for reminding us all of that fact.